Which type of game do you prefer? Part 2

It’s time for part 2 in the series of blog posts I’ll be writing to determine what type of game my readers and many others out there are most interested in.  The topic last week dealt with graphics and content.  Being very broad in it’s approach the poll/questionnaire was fairly specific on which which type players prefer: “A game that has average graphics but focuses on making great content” won by a landslide in the polls and on my blog you guys said you don’t place graphics ahead of content either.  With the results of Part 1 in mind, the next step is to narrow down which type of content players prefer.

Which type of game do you prefer?

A game of open PvP.  Winner takes all.  No restrictions.  Light PvE.
A RVR based based where two or more sides battle it out in battle grounds and world pvp.  Mostly RvR with some PvE.
A hybrid game with both PvE and PvP with zero bias as to which content is more important.
A game designed purely for PvE with PvP as an afterthought.
A game with only PvE.  Dueling is the only form of PvP.
Something else.

Given the choices above which would you choose?  Are you a DAOC/WAR type that likes RVR, or are you a LOTRO type seeking a game designed purely for PvE with PvP as an afterthought?  There are many more games which can be aligned with each of those ‘types’ and don’t feel influenced by my mention of DAOC, War, and LOTRO.  Do not worry about the details right now like Raiding or the content of the pvp.

When I look deeper at which type of game I prefer I lean heavily towards an RVR based game where realms go against each other to dominate a world or a battlefield.  I enjoy a game focused around fighting for something with shared goals.  The game can not be entirely without PvE though because it is sometimes relaxing to leave the battlefield for a moment and enjoy a nice slaughtering of mindless NPCs.  Combining last week’s answer with this week: I prefer a good looking game that runs well with great content, where the focus is on RVR and fighting for your realm’s mutual goals.  Some PvE is nice as long as it stays within the ‘great content’ boundries.

As we move into parts 3 and on we will be looking deeper into the content we all prefer and hopefully by the end of this little experiment we can all say exactly what type of game we prefer.  Feel free to work it out through words by leaving a comment or evaluate which games you have played fit each type.  This isn’t meant to be difficult and there are no right or wrong answers.  It’s what you think that matters.

  • I think if there was some reason for me to join a specific realm and I felt some purpose in fighting against another faction for something important, then I think the game for me would be PvE mainly with a heavy RvR element.

  • I enjoy RvR style games. I enjoy feeling like i’m part of a team and like i’m part of some larger event, such as taking over another realm.

  • I prefer a game with a strong mix of RvR and PvE, with some conditions:

    First, unlike in WAR, the RvR wouldn’t be the ultimate and only end of the game. There are many things to do at the game’s high end, and the primary faction conflict isn’t the only faction conflict players can join.

    Second, the RvR and PvE are not always separate and not zoned off from each other. In SWG, I could happen across an RvR conflict while exploring PvE content or even just walking into a neutral cantina.

    Really, I’d like the RvR and PvE to be thought of as one and the same much of the time. For example, the player is performing actions on behalf of his faction for factions goals and not selfish goals.

  • A game of open PvP. Winner takes all. No restrictions. Light PvE.
    A RVR based based where two or more sides battle it out in battle grounds and world pvp. Mostly RvR with some PvE.
    —————————————-
    I think there is a middle ground that is often overlooked there. Shadowbane, EVE, and Puzzle Pirates all offer that middle ground. Those games have FFA available in them but also offer territory control, city/outpost management, resource control, and other aspects that people often forget can be in an FFA game. FFA isn’t a game design, rather a tool to allow the rest of the game design to function properly in those games. They allow for player choice… choice that is not available in most MMOGs. That is the choice of whether or not you even want to wage war. RvR is undeniably based on senseless and unabashed genocide. You are to kill the opponent because you are told to. That’s it.

    FFA rules in a PVP game, especially ones allowing control of areas, provide for player decisions and player politics. Players can negotiate and declare war. Players can choose to create a neutral town and other players can choose to attack it or defend it. Players can choose the peopel they ally with. Likewise, players can choose to spy, sabotage, infiltrate, and backstab. RVR does not and *cannot* offer that level of depth to PvP and results in lackluster transference of keeps back and forth ad nauseum.

    UO, my most favoritest MMOG in the world, really went a long way towards giving FFA PvP a bad name. Add to that the fact (yes, it is a fact) that FFA PvP environments attract some of the worst people in online gaming, and a lot of people never give FFA environments a chance. It’s a shame because FFA in MMOGs has often also allowed for another aspect that RVR environments cannot…. history.

    It is understood in most MMOGs that you are NOT a unique flower. Your guild will do exactly what every other guild does. FFA allows a server history to be created by the players. Instead of being background to an unrelated and static plot, the players create the history of the server through their actions. Here is an example: http://www.themess.com/timeline/

    Open PvP can provide a much greater game than people give it credit for. Unfortunately when you say “open PvP” most people automatically think ganking, full loot, and jackasses. While not far off, there’s still more to it than that. 🙂

  • “Open PvP can provide a much greater game than people give it credit for.”
    _______________________

    Absolutely! That’s the beauty in any system whether it be a type listed above or something completely different – there’s always beauty to be seen by someone. While I have enjoyed ‘Shadowbane’ style pvp in the past, ultimately I must say that my favorite is the two or three or more sides laying siege to each other in a never ending struggle for dominance – and toss a little PvE in there for spice things up. Is it unabashed genocide? I never though of it in that terminology but… yep I think so! 😛

    Thanks for your comments. 🙂

  • A RVR based based where two or more sides battle it out in battle grounds and world pvp. Mostly RvR with some PvE.

    I can’t remember where I mentioned this lately, but one thing about DAoC and Planetside that we haven’t seen lately is three sides. I think that adds a lot to a game.

  • “A game with only PvE. Dueling is the only form of PvP.”

    When I look back on the few games I enjoyed the most and played the longest, they fit the above description. Even when I played DAOC, which I really enjoyed, I played on the only pure PVE server they had. Just don’t enjoy PVP in any form.

  • I guess I would have to say in a perfect world I would want a hybrid game with both PVP & PVE that are separate and equal. RVR does sound interesting though but I don’t think I’ve ever played anything that really fits into that category as you describe it.

  • I guess I would add one more condition to my PvE-RvR mix: ala SWG, players aren’t required to participate in the RvR. I’m like Aspendawn sometimes in that I just want to play the environment and not other players.

  • […] It’s time for another installment in my ‘What type of game do you prefer?’ series. This is part 3 in what I hope is a lengthy series to ultimately determine what sort of MMORPG or Online Game players prefer. The past two articles saw great response from gamers with vastly different views. Part 1 asked gamers to focus on graphics vs. gameplay and decide which was more important to them and why. Part 2 was the PvP breakdown where players had to decide if they wanted a gankfest, sheltered pvp, rvr, or absolutely no player vs. player combat. Combining parts one and two I have discovered that my personal preferences lead me towards a good looking game that runs well with great content, where the focus is on RVR and fighting for your realm’s mutual goals. Some PvE is nice as long as it stays within the ‘great content’ boundries. […]

  • “A RVR based [game] where two or more sides battle it out in battle grounds and world pvp. Mostly RvR with some PvE.”

    This would be my choice but I prefer more than two sides. Maybe I’m looking for the DAOC feel again, but I just like the play on multiple fronts.

  • […] It’s time for the next installment in my ‘what type of game do you prefer?’ series. I decided to combine parts 4 and 5 into one blog entry due to their more focused questioning. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the first three parts then definitely do so before or after reading further. Part 1 asked gamers to focus on graphics vs. gameplay and decide which was more important to them and why. Part 2 was the PvP breakdown where players had to decide if they wanted a gankfest, sheltered pvp, rvr, or absolutely no player vs. player combat. Part 3 was the solo vs grouping debate and where the perfect balance was for you. Combining the first three parts: the type of game I want is a good looking game that runs well with great content, where the focus is on RVR and fighting for your realm’s mutual goals. Any PvE content should be fully developed and friendly to both soloing and grouping and be beneficial in some way to both. […]